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| Rosenbauer debuted its Maverick rural/urban pumper-tanker, a unit that incorporates Green Star idle reduction technology. |
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| Rosenbauer also introduced a Maverick pumper-tanker on an International Lonestar chassis, built for the Flint City (AL) Volunteer Fire Department. |
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| Alexis offers a 3,500-gallon tanker built on an International 7600 tandem chassis and powered by a MaxxForce 13 diesel engine. |
Tankers or tenders, East or West— the name depends on where you are. But, the purpose of the vehicle is the same: to move large amounts of water to an emergency scene quickly and safely. Like traditional pumpers, there is no shortage of innovation with these types of apparatus, and several manufacturers have recently added new units to their product lines.
Rosenbauer introduced its Maverick rural/urban pumper tanker fitted with Green Star idle reduction technology. The Maverick rides on an International 7400 WorkStar 4×4 chassis with an Allison 3000 EVS transmission, carries a 1,250-gpm NH-55 pump, and features a 1,500-gallon polypropylene water tank.
Donley Frederickson, national sales manager, says the 203-inch wheelbase vehicle also has an FRC InControl pressure governor, an Elkhart front turret, an electrically-controlled 10-inch rear dump valve, electric rewind high pressure booster reel with 100 feet of one-inch hose, two 1½-inch speedlays, ladder storage in the hosebed, and storage for a manual enclosed drop tank.
Frederickson points out that Rosenbauer’s Green Star technology uses an auxiliary power unit (APU) to handle the vehicle’s electrical needs when it’s not necessary to engage the pump. The operator can shut down the truck’s main engine, saving approximately one gallon of diesel fuel per hour of idling, and engage the APU, which, to run an 8,000-watt generator, uses one quart of fuel per hour.
Rosenbauer also introduced a Maverick pumper-tanker, built for the Flint City (AL) Volunteer Fire Department. Built on an International Lonestar chassis, the pumper-tanker carries a 1,500-gpm single-stage midship pump, a 2,500-gallon polypropylene water tank, a Class 1 TPG pressure governor, Elkhart electronic valve controls, and an Elkhart Vulcan deck monitor.
It also has two 1½-inch crosslays above the pump, a Zico-powered drop tank carrier, pike pole storage in the rear of the body, ground ladder storage through the tank, and Whelen LED upper and lower warning light packages.
Alexis debuted a 3,500-gallon elliptical tanker on an International 7600 two-door tandem chassis with a 217-inch wheelbase. Powered by a 410-hp MaxxForce 13 diesel engine and Allison 4000 EVS transmission, the tanker has a 748-gpm Hale PSD 75 PTO pump, three 10-inch square electrically-controlled tank dumps with 18-inch extensions (one on each side and one in the rear), three Fireman’s Friend tank fills (two 2½-inch and one 4-inch) at the rear, and a 5-inch front suction through the front bumper.
It also carries a Ziamatic electric folding tank bracket for a 3,500-gallon tank, two 1¾-inch preconnects and hose trays, an Audiovox backup camera with a 7-inch color monitor, a Kussmaul 1200 battery charger, and Super Auto Eject 120-volt shoreline.
Sutphen Corp.’s new pumper-tanker, built on an International 7400 SFA heavy-duty chassis, is powered by a 330-hp MaxxForce 9 diesel engine and uses an Allison 3000 EVS transmission.
Drew Sutphen, president, says the pumper-tanker features a six-person cab, a 1,250-gpm Hale DSD125-23X pump, and a 1,500-gallon L-shaped water tank to give the vehicle a lower center of gravity and reduce the rear hosebed height.
The Sutphen pumper-tanker has all stainless steel plumbing, a 6-inch suction and 2½-inch intake on each side, a 6-inch rear dump valve, four 2½-inch discharges, one 2-inch discharge, and two 1½-inch crosslays.
Crimson Fire has developed two large-volume vehicles—a Classic Series tanker and a Transformer pumper.
The Classic Series tanker is built on a Kenilworth T370 chassis with a two-person cab, is powered by a 330-hp PACCAR PX-8 diesel engine, and carries a 2,000-gallon water tank and a 500-gpm Hale AP50 PTO pump in an under-tank module configuration.
The tanker has a Newton 10-inch manual swivel dump and sports a Federal Signal 54-inch Jetsolaris light bar and Federal LED lower warning package.
Crimson’s Transformer pumper is built on an International 7500 chassis; has an International MaxxForce 350-hp engine and Allison 3000 transmission; and carries a Darley 1,250-gpm PTO pump, a 1,000-gallon water tank, a Hypro Foam Pro 2001 system, and a 20-gallon foam tank integral with the booster tank.
US Tanker has unveiled several vehicles, including units from its Patriot, Guardian, and Heritage series.
The Patriot tanker has a 3,000-gallon elliptical tank, although tanks with up to 4,000-gallon capacities are available. It is built on an International 7500 chassis with a two-person cab, is powered by a 350-hp MaxxForce engine, and has a compartment-mounted midship pump.
The Guardian pumper-tanker carries 1,000 gallons of water in a polypropylene tank. US Tanker provides the Guardian on commercial and custom chassis and will mount Darley, Hale, or Waterous pumps on the vehicle. Its Heritage series tanker accommodates tanks between 1,000 and 4,000 gallons, mounts a variety of pumps, and can be built on either custom or commercial chassis.
Midwest Fire has tanker and pumper-tanker offerings that include its Poly-T style tanker built on a Freightliner M2-106 chassis and carrying a 400-gpm Hale HPX 300 portable pump, a 3,000-gallon water tank, and 10-inch square Newton dump valves with 36-inch telescoping chutes at the side and rear.
Its PT2 pumper-tanker has a 1,500-gallon tank, a Hale 1,250-gpm pump, and all Akron valves. Tank capacities are available from 1,500 to 3,500 gallons, and up to 2,000-gpm pumps can be fitted.
Marion Rescue and Fire Apparatus debuted a 2,500-gallon tanker on a Spartan chassis, featuring a 100-inch-wide body, low side-body compartments, a folding tank compartment through the tank, and flush-mounted roll-up doors.
The tanker is available, according to Marion, on custom or commercial chassis, with polypropylene tanks ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 gallons, and with a selection of PTO and portable pumps.
RocketFire offers two tankers that both use polyprene integrated tank and body construction that the company states gives durable, corrosion-resistant, and lightweight design.
One of the units carries a 3,000-gallon tank, 26-inch-deep low side compartments, and a 10-inch manual rear Newton stainless steel dump valve with an aluminum swivel chute. A smaller unit has a 1,500-gallon tank, the same Newton dump valve, and low side compartments.
Both vehicles offer midship pump modules in 250- to 2,250-gpm capacities or integrated 500- to 1,000-gpm PTO pumps.
A Mexican company, Quiroga Fire Trucks, offers a tanker on an International chassis with a two-person cab, 1,000-gpm midship pump, and 2,000-gallon water tank on a single axle.
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Arizona-based freelance writer. He served 22 years with the Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including in the position of chief.
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